This study investigates the relationship between mental
disorder and violent behavior. Detailed interviews were conducted with
inmates in the North Carolina prison system. Each respondent was given
a psychological assessment using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule,
Version III. Conditions of particular interest were schizophrenia,
mood disorders (depression and dysthymia), traumatic stress disorder,
and alcohol disorders. The data supply information on the respondent's
criminal history, psychological status at the time of interview,... (more info)

This study investigates the relationship between mental
disorder and violent behavior. Detailed interviews were conducted with
inmates in the North Carolina prison system. Each respondent was given
a psychological assessment using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule,
Version III. Conditions of particular interest were schizophrenia,
mood disorders (depression and dysthymia), traumatic stress disorder,
and alcohol disorders. The data supply information on the respondent's
criminal history, psychological status at the time of interview, and
history of rule infractions while incarcerated for the current
offense. In addition to the psychological assessment, questions were
also asked covering areas of general health status, criminal history,
and drug and alcohol use. Demographic information includes age,
education, marital status, and race.

Access Notes

The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public.
Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

A collection of SAS programs is available to create
composite variables used in making the psychological assessments. The
programs are available in hardcopy form only, upon request from
ICPSR. Two Logical Record Length versions of the data are
available. The first contains one record per case with a maximum line
length of 5,455. The second, which is PC-compatible, contains six
records per case with a maximum line length of 950.

Methodology

Study Purpose:
The Research Triangle Institute conducted this
study to investigate the relationship between mental disorder and the
propensity to engage in violent behavior. This work continues a stream
of research on mental disorder and violence. However, in contrast to
previous research, the authors gathered data on specific mental
disorders. Interviews were conducted with male felons recently
admitted to the North Carolina prison system. A major focus of the
interviews was a detailed psychological assessment of each
respondent. This was accomplished by use of the Diagnostic Interview
Schedule, Version III, and specialized computer software. Attention
was given to conditions such as schizophrenia, mood disorders
(depression and dysthymia), traumatic stress syndrome, and alcohol
disorders. The authors investigated the relationship between these
disorders and violent behavior occurring before an inmate's current
incarceration. In addition, the authors gathered data to explore the
relationship between mental disorder and an inmate's behavior while
incarcerated. The dataset is comprised of both self-report data and
criminal records.

Study Design:
Interviews were conducted at the five reception
centers that process all male felons entering the North Carolina
prison system. Interviews were conducted within a few days of the
inmates' arrival by 14 professional survey interviewers and lasted
approximately 90 minutes each. In order to make a psychological
assessment of each respondent, the National Institute of Mental
Health's Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version III (DIS-III) was used
in the interviews. The DIS-III was designed to be used by nonclinical
personnel to aid in making psychiatric diagnoses. Official records
were obtained detailing each respondent's arrest history prior to the
current incarceration and rule violations while in prison subsequent
to the current incarceration.

Sample:
Male prisoners entering North Carolina prisons between
March and June 1983.

Data Source:

personal interviews, and arrest and incarceration
records

Description of Variables:
A major portion of the interviews was devoted to
gathering data for a psychological assessment of each
respondent. Psychological conditions of interest were schizophrenia,
mood disorders, traumatic stress syndrome, and alcohol
disorders. Additional topics covered in the interviews included
general health status, criminal history, drug and alcohol use, and
demographic information. Arrest records provided information on the
nature and timing of previous police contacts.

Response Rates:
A total of 1,327 inmates were eligible to be
interviewed. Interviews were completed with 1,149 inmates (86.6
percent). Those not interviewed include 10.2 percent who refused to
participate, 2.6 percent who were transferred before interviews could
be conducted, and 0.6 percent who could not be interviewed because of
physical, mental, or language limitations. Inmates who were not
interviewed tended to be older and to have more serious criminal
histories than those who were interviewed.

Presence of Common Scales:
None.

Version(s)

Original ICPSR Release:1993-10-02

Version History:

2006-01-12 All files were removed from dataset 3 and flagged as study-level files, so that they will accompany all downloads.

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